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Survival of the fittest in Premier League

Games come thick and fast in December — which squad is best prepared to cope?

Jonathan Northcroft, Football correspondent

December 3 2017, 12:01am, The Sunday Times

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Can West Ham end City’s spectacular run?

During Pep Guardiola’s sabbatical in New York he dined regularly with Garry Kasparov, the chess icon. Two cerebral men, fascinated by ideas, their conversations were often philosophical. During one Kasparov observed: “Time, Pep, your biggest enemy is time.” Maybe the Russian was being profound. But maybe not. Perhaps he had merely seen an English football fixture card, knowing his friend would manage there. And here we are in December, the cruellest month: the season to be jolly or, if you are a player, so very, very tired.

Against West Ham today City continue a sequence in which they play 14 games in 45 days. There are 10 matches in the next 30 days, including a trip to Ukraine.

Time, Pep — there is limited scope for…

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